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JO
Jolene Hall is dead – sort of. She can walk, think and talk, but her heart doesn't beat and her lungs stopped breathing ages ago. Her body’s a mosaic of jagged wounds and stapled flesh.
Jolene Hall has a choice: turn herself in to the authorities, led by a suspiciously handsome police officer, or team up with her roommate Lucy and her boyfriend Eli to find a way to save herself. To Jo, the choice is clear. She’d like to know who turned her into a monster, and she’d like to live to see another sunrise.
But that choice has drastic repercussions.
On a trip deep into the snowy White Mountains, to a hidden laboratory filled with danger and cadavers, Jo and Lucy find more reanimated girls. Part body, part machine, run by batteries and electricity, these girls are killers, created by a shadowy Order with a penchant for chaos…and murder.
To make matters worse, a photo on a wall of victims reveals Lucy is next in line to be "recruited” into this army of beautiful, walking corpses.
When Jo’s physical condition takes a turn for the irreparable, and the Order kidnaps those she loves most, she must sacrifice herself to save them all.
Jolene Hall has a choice: turn herself in to the authorities, led by a suspiciously handsome police officer, or team up with her roommate Lucy and her boyfriend Eli to find a way to save herself. To Jo, the choice is clear. She’d like to know who turned her into a monster, and she’d like to live to see another sunrise.
But that choice has drastic repercussions.
On a trip deep into the snowy White Mountains, to a hidden laboratory filled with danger and cadavers, Jo and Lucy find more reanimated girls. Part body, part machine, run by batteries and electricity, these girls are killers, created by a shadowy Order with a penchant for chaos…and murder.
To make matters worse, a photo on a wall of victims reveals Lucy is next in line to be "recruited” into this army of beautiful, walking corpses.
When Jo’s physical condition takes a turn for the irreparable, and the Order kidnaps those she loves most, she must sacrifice herself to save them all.
246 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
2 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 26, 2016
I’m actually really struggling to write this review. I wish I had more to say, but it’s one of those books that just went so far downhill by the end of the book that I don’t think I can muster up the energy or motivation to weave some sort of fancy review. It’s actually simple: this book had a great premise and a great beginning but lost it’s rhythm after about 20% and completely crashed and died at 80%.
What I did love about this book was how, from the very first word of the story, we were thrown neck deep into a fast-paced and thrilling situation. As readers we were trying just as frantically as the protagonist to piece together what was happening. Because of this, the first 15% of this book was completely engaging and entertaining. There was this fantastic sense of urgency, and I generally became invested in Jo’s plight. I also loved how we got to spend time steadily building up the protagonist's relationship with her best friend during this phase. Too often female friendships in YA books are portrayed in a negative or even toxic fashion, but Jo and Lucy’s relationship was sweet and realistic. Their banter was a little lame but somehow endearing - no one is as quick-witted as Jace Wayland in real life, and their little jokes and jibes at each other reminded me of so many of my own friendships. It was such a strong, well-rounded beginning!
… and then, umm, yeah, it just went downhill from there, really. The plot was more than a little unbelievable. It was actually kind of ridiculous; like one those cheesy horror films that you spend half of the movie screaming at the dumb characters not to make any more dumb decisions if they don’t want to die. I physically just cannot suspend my disbelief far enough to believe the whole conspiracy/Order thing. I was cringing at the direction the story took, and just immensely disliked the second half of the story.
It didn’t help that we were introduced to some new characters that were more than simply annoying. Jo’s boyfriend (I think his name may have been Eli?) was an arsehole. He did not treat Jo well, and I fail to understand what Jo could possibly have seen in him. He was just plain old rude and obnoxious. I found it impossible to ship Jo and Eli (or whatever his name was) and that meant the entire romantic subplot of this story quickly became pretty meaningless to me. I wish I could have invested in their romance but I just couldn’t understand their relationship dynamics or how Jo could stand Eli.
The familial relationships in this book were also appalling. Jo’s interaction with her parents was just awful. Their dialogue was the most awkward over-the-top thing I have been subjected to. I’m getting gross little goosebumps just thinking about it. I don’t even want to think about how Jo’s father called his college-aged daughter “his little rainbow”. They were so weird!
Overall, I did have a lot of problems with the characters and plotline of Heartless. The first 20% was promising and I thought that the story would take an exciting direction but I could not suspend my belief far enough to find this remotely plausible. The female friendship and the fresh, modern writing style was probably my favourite aspect of this story but I wouldn’t go around recommending this book. I think I’ll skip over this author’s work in the future and find myself a different Frankenstein retelling to fall in love with.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
What I did love about this book was how, from the very first word of the story, we were thrown neck deep into a fast-paced and thrilling situation. As readers we were trying just as frantically as the protagonist to piece together what was happening. Because of this, the first 15% of this book was completely engaging and entertaining. There was this fantastic sense of urgency, and I generally became invested in Jo’s plight. I also loved how we got to spend time steadily building up the protagonist's relationship with her best friend during this phase. Too often female friendships in YA books are portrayed in a negative or even toxic fashion, but Jo and Lucy’s relationship was sweet and realistic. Their banter was a little lame but somehow endearing - no one is as quick-witted as Jace Wayland in real life, and their little jokes and jibes at each other reminded me of so many of my own friendships. It was such a strong, well-rounded beginning!
… and then, umm, yeah, it just went downhill from there, really. The plot was more than a little unbelievable. It was actually kind of ridiculous; like one those cheesy horror films that you spend half of the movie screaming at the dumb characters not to make any more dumb decisions if they don’t want to die. I physically just cannot suspend my disbelief far enough to believe the whole conspiracy/Order thing. I was cringing at the direction the story took, and just immensely disliked the second half of the story.
It didn’t help that we were introduced to some new characters that were more than simply annoying. Jo’s boyfriend (I think his name may have been Eli?) was an arsehole. He did not treat Jo well, and I fail to understand what Jo could possibly have seen in him. He was just plain old rude and obnoxious. I found it impossible to ship Jo and Eli (or whatever his name was) and that meant the entire romantic subplot of this story quickly became pretty meaningless to me. I wish I could have invested in their romance but I just couldn’t understand their relationship dynamics or how Jo could stand Eli.
The familial relationships in this book were also appalling. Jo’s interaction with her parents was just awful. Their dialogue was the most awkward over-the-top thing I have been subjected to. I’m getting gross little goosebumps just thinking about it. I don’t even want to think about how Jo’s father called his college-aged daughter “his little rainbow”. They were so weird!
Overall, I did have a lot of problems with the characters and plotline of Heartless. The first 20% was promising and I thought that the story would take an exciting direction but I could not suspend my belief far enough to find this remotely plausible. The female friendship and the fresh, modern writing style was probably my favourite aspect of this story but I wouldn’t go around recommending this book. I think I’ll skip over this author’s work in the future and find myself a different Frankenstein retelling to fall in love with.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
October 28, 2014
Jolene Hall is a normal college student matriculating at Smytheville University in the Northeastern US. She has loving parents, is besties with Lucy – her dorm roommate (a beautiful red head with a politically connected mother,) and she has a volatile but loving relationship with her boyfriend, Eli. Then everything changes one evening when she has a fight with Eli on the night of a major blizzard. She foolishly decides to walk home, and the next thing she knows she’s been revived from death as a Frankenstein-like monster. Her flesh is beginning to decimate, her organs have been replaced with pumps and electrical wiring, and her blood has been swapped out for some kind of viscous fluid.
Jo by Leah Rhyne is a novel which walks several edges. It’s not exactly young adult, but it’s also not adult enough in its treatment of some of the more emotional elements to classify it as a classic thriller. It’s not a mainstream horror or sci-fi story either. There is some generic discussion of the mechanics of the lead character’s reclamation over death, but not enough to satisfy a purest; and the story only has one tropey horror scene when Jo and Lucy find themselves surrounded by reanimated zombie-like monster-girls in a poorly lighted laboratory.
There’s a lot of humor in Jo, most owing to Jo's rapidly escalating stench; and the character’s interplay well and believably for the most part. In that sense, it reminded me of the recent low budget cult movie Life After Beth. As with most books in these genres, we’re left wondering about how the characters so easily deal with situations that would throw most of us into psychotic breakdown, but if we readers actually refused to suspend disbelief on that score, we’d never get past the premise of zombies or reanimated corpses at all. Would we?
A few of the story’s weaker elements include the introduction of a high-level underground conspiracy which is capable of killing and reanimating an army of fembots, but has such poor security that two college girls are able to escape and destroy their lairs not once, but twice. Also, this shadow governmental agency is peculiarly unable to capture and prevent the girls from investigating their motives despite actually having them in their sites the entire time. Also, I felt the villains were telegraphed a little too much. This could have been avoided by perhaps having a few additional ancillary characters for the others to interact with, but it didn’t really harm the story because that wasn’t really supposed to be a mystery for us to solve.
Ms Rhyne is, however, very adept at figuring out ways to explain away and conceal the smell of a cadaver and to disguise a young girl whose face and limbs are falling away every ten minutes. And the relationships between the various members of Jo’s circle are reverently treated with discreet emotion and beautifully portrayed loyalty. I enjoyed their friendships and sense of family, and it genuinely helped me to relate to and root for the characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Jo, and I think it would make an excellent late October book discussion for a group of twenty-something college grad girlfriends looking for something escapist and light for their coffee klatch.
Jo by Leah Rhyne is a novel which walks several edges. It’s not exactly young adult, but it’s also not adult enough in its treatment of some of the more emotional elements to classify it as a classic thriller. It’s not a mainstream horror or sci-fi story either. There is some generic discussion of the mechanics of the lead character’s reclamation over death, but not enough to satisfy a purest; and the story only has one tropey horror scene when Jo and Lucy find themselves surrounded by reanimated zombie-like monster-girls in a poorly lighted laboratory.
There’s a lot of humor in Jo, most owing to Jo's rapidly escalating stench; and the character’s interplay well and believably for the most part. In that sense, it reminded me of the recent low budget cult movie Life After Beth. As with most books in these genres, we’re left wondering about how the characters so easily deal with situations that would throw most of us into psychotic breakdown, but if we readers actually refused to suspend disbelief on that score, we’d never get past the premise of zombies or reanimated corpses at all. Would we?
A few of the story’s weaker elements include the introduction of a high-level underground conspiracy which is capable of killing and reanimating an army of fembots, but has such poor security that two college girls are able to escape and destroy their lairs not once, but twice. Also, this shadow governmental agency is peculiarly unable to capture and prevent the girls from investigating their motives despite actually having them in their sites the entire time. Also, I felt the villains were telegraphed a little too much. This could have been avoided by perhaps having a few additional ancillary characters for the others to interact with, but it didn’t really harm the story because that wasn’t really supposed to be a mystery for us to solve.
Ms Rhyne is, however, very adept at figuring out ways to explain away and conceal the smell of a cadaver and to disguise a young girl whose face and limbs are falling away every ten minutes. And the relationships between the various members of Jo’s circle are reverently treated with discreet emotion and beautifully portrayed loyalty. I enjoyed their friendships and sense of family, and it genuinely helped me to relate to and root for the characters.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Jo, and I think it would make an excellent late October book discussion for a group of twenty-something college grad girlfriends looking for something escapist and light for their coffee klatch.
August 14, 2014
Oh my goodness I've just finished this amazing read at 6am as I just couldn't put it down. When I first read the blurb I really wasn't sure how it could be pulled off as its such a fascinating storyline.
But wow I really enjoyed everything about this read.
Its the first book I've read of Miss Rhynes and won't be the last and now sitting on tenderhooks for a book two.
From the first page Leah had me hooked even though I honestly had a few doubts; but I needn't have worried at all as this fast paced book had me gripped and I mean completely hooked and simply had to keep reading till dawn.
Jo was a brilliantly written compelling read and so believable, pulling off someone dead is hard enough; but her descriptive writing as she decayed was horrific and you really felt for Jo knowing she was dying but still wanting to save the other girls and protect Lucy from being the very next walking dead.
I loved Lucy's character the strong willed kick ass friend you need at a time when you wakeup dead but still alive...like you do.....! I also loved the sense of humor between best friends Jo and Lucy this was really compassionate.
Eli, Jo's boyfriend was also well thought out; although I got so annoyed with him at times within the read. Heartfelt moments too as Jo had some flashbacks of memories with Eli knowing she'd never have them again.
I have to stress its not another zombie read this is completely different style of read. The ending was brilliantly written I had tears in my eyes and I would love a book two as it would be great to see more of Lucy too; I loved this character as her and Eli fight to stop the sadistic "order of the adversaries" in memory of Jolene Hall. This would make the most brilliant horror film for any of you script writers out there.
Its a unique read and something I've not read before; a refreshing change and a great addition to my horror library and another book that has left me with that contented feeling you get after a really good read.
But wow I really enjoyed everything about this read.
Its the first book I've read of Miss Rhynes and won't be the last and now sitting on tenderhooks for a book two.
From the first page Leah had me hooked even though I honestly had a few doubts; but I needn't have worried at all as this fast paced book had me gripped and I mean completely hooked and simply had to keep reading till dawn.
Jo was a brilliantly written compelling read and so believable, pulling off someone dead is hard enough; but her descriptive writing as she decayed was horrific and you really felt for Jo knowing she was dying but still wanting to save the other girls and protect Lucy from being the very next walking dead.
I loved Lucy's character the strong willed kick ass friend you need at a time when you wakeup dead but still alive...like you do.....! I also loved the sense of humor between best friends Jo and Lucy this was really compassionate.
Eli, Jo's boyfriend was also well thought out; although I got so annoyed with him at times within the read. Heartfelt moments too as Jo had some flashbacks of memories with Eli knowing she'd never have them again.
I have to stress its not another zombie read this is completely different style of read. The ending was brilliantly written I had tears in my eyes and I would love a book two as it would be great to see more of Lucy too; I loved this character as her and Eli fight to stop the sadistic "order of the adversaries" in memory of Jolene Hall. This would make the most brilliant horror film for any of you script writers out there.
Its a unique read and something I've not read before; a refreshing change and a great addition to my horror library and another book that has left me with that contented feeling you get after a really good read.
September 14, 2024
For those that haven’t experienced the glory of Leah Rhyne’s storytelling, I insist you read her first novel, Zombie Days, Campfire Nights. I am not a fan of the zombie genre, at all, and Rhyne’s Undead America series actually had me LOVING a zombie story. Go forth my readers, indulge in the magic that is Leah Rhyne.
Now, onto her recent masterpiece, JO. First off, what an absolute creepy cover! I can just imagine her jumping off the page and coming to life! I love horror, and spooky stories. Many other authors have crafted stories of an undead girl coming back to life, but never has the undead been a highly likable protagonist. Rhyne has created a refreshing spin on an age-old-idea of the undead not wanting to leave the world of the living.
Rhyne knows exactly how to give her readers the creeps! As the story progresses and JO’s condition worsens, the description of her state are bang-on! You can perfectly see her in your mind and it gives you absolute chills.
I finished this book in one night because I simply had to know how the story ended. Jolene and her best friend Lucy are characters the reader grows to truly care about. I had to know how the story ended for them!
I look forward to re-reading this story closer to Halloween! Brilliant, brilliant ending! I hope to see another story based in this world. Connect with Leah: http://www.leahrhyne.com
Now, onto her recent masterpiece, JO. First off, what an absolute creepy cover! I can just imagine her jumping off the page and coming to life! I love horror, and spooky stories. Many other authors have crafted stories of an undead girl coming back to life, but never has the undead been a highly likable protagonist. Rhyne has created a refreshing spin on an age-old-idea of the undead not wanting to leave the world of the living.
Rhyne knows exactly how to give her readers the creeps! As the story progresses and JO’s condition worsens, the description of her state are bang-on! You can perfectly see her in your mind and it gives you absolute chills.
I finished this book in one night because I simply had to know how the story ended. Jolene and her best friend Lucy are characters the reader grows to truly care about. I had to know how the story ended for them!
I look forward to re-reading this story closer to Halloween! Brilliant, brilliant ending! I hope to see another story based in this world. Connect with Leah: http://www.leahrhyne.com
June 9, 2017
Thought when reading this book > WHAT AM I READING?
Thought when finishing this book > WHAT KIND OF CRAP AM I READING?
Final thought > WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHY WASTING MY PRECIOUS TIME TO READ THIS BOOK?
The only good thing in this book is the 'modern-frankenstein' thingy. Others? meh. Save yourself.
Thought when finishing this book > WHAT KIND OF CRAP AM I READING?
Final thought > WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHY WASTING MY PRECIOUS TIME TO READ THIS BOOK?
The only good thing in this book is the 'modern-frankenstein' thingy. Others? meh. Save yourself.
April 15, 2015
I loved this—it's a modern take on the Frankenstein story, with some very groovy and very weird sci-fi elements tossed in for good measure. But it never loses it's grounding, and stays rooted firmly in character. Leah Rhyne is a writer to keep an eye on.
July 11, 2016
There was absolutely nothing new or exciting about Heartless. It took me so long to get through the book simply because I didn't want to continue reading.
Jo and Lucy were, to me, rather one-dimensional characters with rich parents. I guess they had a nice friendship in the sense that they are supportive of one another and there is no slut-shaming, but otherwise I just felt kind of lack luster about the whole thing.
But by far the worst part was the plot, if you can even call it that. It's quite clear from the very beginning who the bad guys are. I guessed as soon as they came onto the scene, within the first few chapters. This made for a boring and frustrating read. There were so man obvious clues that were overlooked that it was infuriating. Every single protagonist in this book was TSTL. I was just impatient to get to the end.
Speaking of the ending, there's a nice little set up for a sequel that I also didn't appreciate. . I will not be continuing with this series.
An free review copy was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Jo and Lucy were, to me, rather one-dimensional characters with rich parents. I guess they had a nice friendship in the sense that they are supportive of one another and there is no slut-shaming, but otherwise I just felt kind of lack luster about the whole thing.
But by far the worst part was the plot, if you can even call it that. It's quite clear from the very beginning who the bad guys are. I guessed as soon as they came onto the scene, within the first few chapters. This made for a boring and frustrating read. There were so man obvious clues that were overlooked that it was infuriating. Every single protagonist in this book was TSTL. I was just impatient to get to the end.
Speaking of the ending, there's a nice little set up for a sequel that I also didn't appreciate. . I will not be continuing with this series.
An free review copy was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
February 8, 2017
"In this modern-day take on the classic Frankenstein tale, as told from the monster's perspective, Jolene Hall" no me lo vendas como un retelling de Frankestein porque claramente no lo es.
Jo es un personaje que me gustó leer, porque está en la misma oscuridad que vos y vas dando los primeros pasos con ella. Tiene humor (negro) y voz propia, que es en lo que los otros personajes lackean un poco.
Me pareció medio ridículo el tema de la superorganización malvada, porque no sólo no tienen un objetivo que sea realmente realizable ("que el mundo no tenga religión ni política", entre otras???) sino que su desempeño, más que nada tirando al final, es bastante de dibujito animado. Hablando con otra persona lo comparé con el malo maloso de Phineas y Ferb, y lo sostengo. No pude pensar en otro villano mientras lo leía.
Me gustó la escritura y el humor negro de la autora pero no me gusta que me mientan-- si en la sinopsis me dice que es algo así como el Frankestein del siglo XXI entonces no utilices nada más al monstruo de Frankestein. Hacelo un retelling de verdad, y sino mejor no digas nada.
Jo es un personaje que me gustó leer, porque está en la misma oscuridad que vos y vas dando los primeros pasos con ella. Tiene humor (negro) y voz propia, que es en lo que los otros personajes lackean un poco.
Me pareció medio ridículo el tema de la superorganización malvada, porque no sólo no tienen un objetivo que sea realmente realizable ("que el mundo no tenga religión ni política", entre otras???) sino que su desempeño, más que nada tirando al final, es bastante de dibujito animado. Hablando con otra persona lo comparé con el malo maloso de Phineas y Ferb, y lo sostengo. No pude pensar en otro villano mientras lo leía.
Me gustó la escritura y el humor negro de la autora pero no me gusta que me mientan-- si en la sinopsis me dice que es algo así como el Frankestein del siglo XXI entonces no utilices nada más al monstruo de Frankestein. Hacelo un retelling de verdad, y sino mejor no digas nada.
September 8, 2014
So good! This is my favorite book by Mrs. Rhyne!
December 15, 2014
Ms. Rhyne shows she's not just about zombies!!
June 20, 2017
I loved this book and read it in a few sittings - a strong, vibrant voice. I'll read anything Leah writes.
March 21, 2017
"Expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed" (Rhyne 67).
Jo Hall is dead. Well, kind of. She can still think, walk, and talk like a person is supposed to. She can still crack jokes with her roommate Lucy and tweet like a fiend. But her heart doesn't beat anymore, she doesn't have to breathe, she's starting to smell (like, really smell), and her body has kind of started decomposing before her eyes. Jo remembers being taken in the middle of a snowstorm and then waking up in a morgue, now a monster. Jo wants to find out who did this to her, and her best friend Lucy and maybe boyfriend Eli are ready to help, but who knows what dangers Jo's search will uncover.
Heartless is a strange book for a number of reasons that the synopsis doesn't even begin to describe. What starts out as a contemporary novel about a young university student wanting to find out who "killed" her quickly turns into a science fiction story about secret military projects and cyborg girls. It wasn't a bad place to take the story, but it was unexpected, and the transition from contemporary to sci-fi was pretty jarring.
The synopsis for Heartless claims this book is a modern retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but I have a very hard time accepting that and would more so say that the book has many Frankensteinish aspects but is not a direct retelling of the story. For one thing, the book references Frankenstein's Monster and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein many times, and every retelling of any story I've read has never referenced the original work it is based on (except Hag-Seed, but that book is a lot more complicated and I understand Atwood's reasoning for calling it a retelling). Aside from Jo's boyfriend's name being Eli, which I'm guessing is a reference to Elizabeth Lavenza in Shelley's work, none of the other characters share names from characters in the text (maybe Lucy? But maybe I'm just thinking of Dracula). What are your thoughts on this? Can a story be a retelling if it references the original work it's retelling?
Another thing I wasn't crazy about were the villains of the story. They just didn't seem that threatening and were much more comical than terrifying. When Jo confronted her Creator in the morgue and through emails, he sounded like an old timey-villain who would be twirling his mustache and tying damsels to railroad tracks. I just wanted to laugh at him more than be afraid of him, which is unfortunate because he had the potential to be a terrifying villain considering the experiments he was doing.
But what I absolutely adored in the book was the friendship between Lucy and Jo. We need more positive female friendships in books, one's like Lucy and Jo's where the two girls work together to solve a problem, where they are by each other's sides through thick and thin. It was so refreshing to read such a positive and realistic friendship between to strong female characters!
Jo's maybe boyfriend Eli just wasn't doing it for me, and I honestly think the book would have been so much better without him. Not only does he do the minimal amount of work to help Jo, but all he does is complain and yell and say horrible things to Jo and Lucy! If the book had just focused on Jo and Lucy trying to find out who did this to Jo I think the story would have been much stronger.
Rhyne is very good at humour and I laughed multiple times while reading because I loved the banter between characters, especially Jo and Lucy. And I really enjoyed when
Heartless is a very interesting "retelling" of Frankenstein that takes you many places you won't expect. If you like to be surprised while you read, and like books that will literally have you laughing out loud, this is the book for you!
November 22, 2016
I received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.
I am having a few problems writing this review and putting into words exactly what I didn't like. I hate when that happens. I loved the premise of this book. A retelling of Frankenstein where the monster is a teenage girl just sounds all kinds of awesome. The problem is that the premise didn't really live up to what I pictured in my head.
The very beginning of the book was great. It started with Jo telling about how she wound up dead and the horror of waking up in a morgue. I loved the friendship between Jo and Lucy. It was very sweet and realistic and I loved that Jo counted on her even more than she counted on her boyfriend, Eli. That doesn't happen in books very often so that was refreshing. It's hard to describe where it went wrong. I think some of the dialogue and interactions were just over the top. The dialogue seemed cheesy at times, especially between Jo and her parents. And then some of her friend's reactions were a bit off. Every time Jo told someone else that she was dead, I expected a bigger reaction or more shock. But maybe that's just me.
Speaking of over the top, let's talk about Jo basically falling apart (physically) as they try to figure out what happened and how to fix her. Another reviewer compared it to a cheesy horror movie and I think that is the most accurate description. The descriptions of her smell and her broken bones that she couldn't even feel and her bones that were showing were just all too much. It was also predictable. There were a couple of people involved in what happened to Jo and the second they were introduced, I said to myself, "Yep, that person is involved." And there were SO MANY SIGNS. I thought Jo, Lucy and Eli were all basically idiots because they couldn't see any of that stuff sooner. I wanted to scream at them so many times. And then the resolution of why everything happened was just crazy. I know you have to suspend a certain amount of disbelief anyway with a story like this, but it just seemed a little too unrealistic.
I also didn't like the romance part of the book. I didn't like Eli. He acted like a jerk at times. Seriously, who yells at a dead woman? Ugh. There was no chemistry between him and Jo and I never understood what Jo saw in him. So I didn't root for them at all.
I really wish this book had been better, but alas, it just wasn't for me.
I am having a few problems writing this review and putting into words exactly what I didn't like. I hate when that happens. I loved the premise of this book. A retelling of Frankenstein where the monster is a teenage girl just sounds all kinds of awesome. The problem is that the premise didn't really live up to what I pictured in my head.
The very beginning of the book was great. It started with Jo telling about how she wound up dead and the horror of waking up in a morgue. I loved the friendship between Jo and Lucy. It was very sweet and realistic and I loved that Jo counted on her even more than she counted on her boyfriend, Eli. That doesn't happen in books very often so that was refreshing. It's hard to describe where it went wrong. I think some of the dialogue and interactions were just over the top. The dialogue seemed cheesy at times, especially between Jo and her parents. And then some of her friend's reactions were a bit off. Every time Jo told someone else that she was dead, I expected a bigger reaction or more shock. But maybe that's just me.
Speaking of over the top, let's talk about Jo basically falling apart (physically) as they try to figure out what happened and how to fix her. Another reviewer compared it to a cheesy horror movie and I think that is the most accurate description. The descriptions of her smell and her broken bones that she couldn't even feel and her bones that were showing were just all too much. It was also predictable. There were a couple of people involved in what happened to Jo and the second they were introduced, I said to myself, "Yep, that person is involved." And there were SO MANY SIGNS. I thought Jo, Lucy and Eli were all basically idiots because they couldn't see any of that stuff sooner. I wanted to scream at them so many times. And then the resolution of why everything happened was just crazy. I know you have to suspend a certain amount of disbelief anyway with a story like this, but it just seemed a little too unrealistic.
I also didn't like the romance part of the book. I didn't like Eli. He acted like a jerk at times. Seriously, who yells at a dead woman? Ugh. There was no chemistry between him and Jo and I never understood what Jo saw in him. So I didn't root for them at all.
I really wish this book had been better, but alas, it just wasn't for me.
April 11, 2025
Absolutely terrible. I only finished it for a book challenge but then DNF'd Marissa Meyer's Heartless.
February 6, 2016
I enjoyed the dark humor, but the plot could use some work.
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through Edelweiss.)
"Me? I made a series of choices that tangled me up with some of the ugliest sort of people I could have imagined. I got my best friend, my boyfriend, even my parents involved. It’s been a disaster, and though the end has come for me, it hasn’t for everyone else. These bad guys won’t stop. No. They have big plans, regardless of the outcome of my little story. So that’s why I need to share it with you. Maybe if you listen, if you hear, you can help stop them."
Nineteen-year-old Jolene Hall attends (the fictional) Smytheville College, "a pricey and prestigious liberal arts school in the mountains of New Hampshire." Her parents are loaded enough that she's got her own private suite, though she does have to share a bathroom with her neighbor (and best friend) Lucy, an exuberant, 6' tall redhead. She's got a pre-med boyfriend named Eli and is rocking it in English class.
All in all, life's pretty good. That is, until the fateful February night when she storms out of Eli's apartment after a nasty fight - only to wake up, naked and disfigured, in a morgue. A rustic mountaintop morgue that is suspiciously rife with the corpses of attractive, college-aged women.
Terrified and disoriented, Jo - also known as Subject 632G-J - runs back to her dorm and enlists the help of Lucy and Eli to figure out wtf is going on. Their digging leads them to Jo's self-appointed "Creator" - and a shadowy group that calls itself the Order of the Adversaries (OoA). Jo isn't the only monster is town, but she is the first to escape. With the help of a underwear model-hot cop named Adam Strong, the trio must race against time to find the person(s) responsible for Jo's murder and resurrection - and convince them to complete the job before Jo's failing body falls to (literal) pieces. Disrupting their nefarious plan? That'd be icing.
Here's the thing. I actually enjoyed the first half of the book. Rhyne's got a morbid, sick sense of humor that really tickles me. Watching Jo learn about her body mods - while trying to keep them all attached - is hella fun. But around the 40-50% mark, the story starts to drag. The conspiracy feels unoriginal and a little cheesy (though, to be fair, maybe this is the point; see, e.g.: the Austin Powers femmebot reference) and isn't very well fleshed out. The baddies read like cartoon villains, without a whole lot of depth or nuance.
And Jo? She's rather unlikable. The first time we meet her, she's picking a senseless fight with her sleeping boyfriend at 2AM. Rather than put it on the back burner for the night, she storms out of his apartment...right into the middle of a blizzard. Then she blames him for the whole scene. Later on, after her assault, kidnapping, and murder, she lets him take responsibility for not going after her...even though he kind of did! (He was on the staircase by the time she hit the street.)
The rest of the characters are more one-dimensional than anything else. Eli's bland as white bread; their relationship is the biggest mystery of all. Seriously, they are just horrible together. The worst.
All in all, I think the book could have been at least 50 pages shorter. A more pared down story might prove more suspenseful. Rhyne throws in the occasional memory and flashback, I guess to humanize Jo and her friends and family, but it only slows down the action. Towards the end of the story, I often found myself skimming certain passages, and skipping Jo's memories altogether.
4 stars for the dark comedy, and 2 for plotting and characterization. I'm more than little bummed with the second act, considering how much I liked the first. It's a super-quick read, though.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/05/09/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through Edelweiss.)
"Me? I made a series of choices that tangled me up with some of the ugliest sort of people I could have imagined. I got my best friend, my boyfriend, even my parents involved. It’s been a disaster, and though the end has come for me, it hasn’t for everyone else. These bad guys won’t stop. No. They have big plans, regardless of the outcome of my little story. So that’s why I need to share it with you. Maybe if you listen, if you hear, you can help stop them."
Nineteen-year-old Jolene Hall attends (the fictional) Smytheville College, "a pricey and prestigious liberal arts school in the mountains of New Hampshire." Her parents are loaded enough that she's got her own private suite, though she does have to share a bathroom with her neighbor (and best friend) Lucy, an exuberant, 6' tall redhead. She's got a pre-med boyfriend named Eli and is rocking it in English class.
All in all, life's pretty good. That is, until the fateful February night when she storms out of Eli's apartment after a nasty fight - only to wake up, naked and disfigured, in a morgue. A rustic mountaintop morgue that is suspiciously rife with the corpses of attractive, college-aged women.
Terrified and disoriented, Jo - also known as Subject 632G-J - runs back to her dorm and enlists the help of Lucy and Eli to figure out wtf is going on. Their digging leads them to Jo's self-appointed "Creator" - and a shadowy group that calls itself the Order of the Adversaries (OoA). Jo isn't the only monster is town, but she is the first to escape. With the help of a underwear model-hot cop named Adam Strong, the trio must race against time to find the person(s) responsible for Jo's murder and resurrection - and convince them to complete the job before Jo's failing body falls to (literal) pieces. Disrupting their nefarious plan? That'd be icing.
Here's the thing. I actually enjoyed the first half of the book. Rhyne's got a morbid, sick sense of humor that really tickles me. Watching Jo learn about her body mods - while trying to keep them all attached - is hella fun. But around the 40-50% mark, the story starts to drag. The conspiracy feels unoriginal and a little cheesy (though, to be fair, maybe this is the point; see, e.g.: the Austin Powers femmebot reference) and isn't very well fleshed out. The baddies read like cartoon villains, without a whole lot of depth or nuance.
And Jo? She's rather unlikable. The first time we meet her, she's picking a senseless fight with her sleeping boyfriend at 2AM. Rather than put it on the back burner for the night, she storms out of his apartment...right into the middle of a blizzard. Then she blames him for the whole scene. Later on, after her assault, kidnapping, and murder, she lets him take responsibility for not going after her...even though he kind of did! (He was on the staircase by the time she hit the street.)
The rest of the characters are more one-dimensional than anything else. Eli's bland as white bread; their relationship is the biggest mystery of all. Seriously, they are just horrible together. The worst.
All in all, I think the book could have been at least 50 pages shorter. A more pared down story might prove more suspenseful. Rhyne throws in the occasional memory and flashback, I guess to humanize Jo and her friends and family, but it only slows down the action. Towards the end of the story, I often found myself skimming certain passages, and skipping Jo's memories altogether.
4 stars for the dark comedy, and 2 for plotting and characterization. I'm more than little bummed with the second act, considering how much I liked the first. It's a super-quick read, though.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/05/09/...
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October 13, 2016Conclusion: I'm far too squeamish to enjoy this book.
I thought I was okay with body horror. You know, I watched Hannibal -- even if I was peeking out through my fingers with my hands over my eyes for some of it. I can usually cope with gore a lot more than I can cope with violence; I think it's a pain thing. At least, that's always been the case with TV shows. But this? Well, pain wasn't a factor, and yet I was definitely not coping with the grossness.
Put simply, it's a zombie story, though of the scientific Frankenstein-style bent rather than a paranormal or magical interpretation. And we get Jolene, the reanimate corpse of a teenage girl, wandering around, slowly rotting throughout the book. Her skin flaps open. Her extremities fall off. Her fingernails just drop off abruptly. And it doesn't let up! Every moment there's some new horror. While I appreciate the dedication to really thinking about the whole 'undead' thing, I couldn't stomach it. I actually had to read this in small chunks, which isn't my usual style, because it got too much after a while to keep reading.
Maybe some readers would be okay with that, even find it entertaining, and therefore would be able to appreciate the characters and plot. There's certainly plenty going on, and some plot twists that I did my best to guess. (One of them, I thought I knew, then thought I was wrong, then turned out to be right, so nice double bluff there. The other, I was just proud of myself for figuring out.) There are some sweet relationships and emotional moments, and I really enjoyed Jo's loving relationship with her parents, because that's super rare in books, especially YA fiction.
BUT... this was gross. Stomach-churningly horrific in terms of body horror. I don't know what it was about it that I couldn't deal with compared to many other violent and disturbing things I've read, but apparently rotting corpses are a no-no for me. Good to know for the future, I guess, but it definitely inhibited my enjoyment of this in a major way. Not recommended for the squeamish and pathetic like me.
I thought I was okay with body horror. You know, I watched Hannibal -- even if I was peeking out through my fingers with my hands over my eyes for some of it. I can usually cope with gore a lot more than I can cope with violence; I think it's a pain thing. At least, that's always been the case with TV shows. But this? Well, pain wasn't a factor, and yet I was definitely not coping with the grossness.
Put simply, it's a zombie story, though of the scientific Frankenstein-style bent rather than a paranormal or magical interpretation. And we get Jolene, the reanimate corpse of a teenage girl, wandering around, slowly rotting throughout the book. Her skin flaps open. Her extremities fall off. Her fingernails just drop off abruptly. And it doesn't let up! Every moment there's some new horror. While I appreciate the dedication to really thinking about the whole 'undead' thing, I couldn't stomach it. I actually had to read this in small chunks, which isn't my usual style, because it got too much after a while to keep reading.
Maybe some readers would be okay with that, even find it entertaining, and therefore would be able to appreciate the characters and plot. There's certainly plenty going on, and some plot twists that I did my best to guess. (One of them, I thought I knew, then thought I was wrong, then turned out to be right, so nice double bluff there. The other, I was just proud of myself for figuring out.) There are some sweet relationships and emotional moments, and I really enjoyed Jo's loving relationship with her parents, because that's super rare in books, especially YA fiction.
BUT... this was gross. Stomach-churningly horrific in terms of body horror. I don't know what it was about it that I couldn't deal with compared to many other violent and disturbing things I've read, but apparently rotting corpses are a no-no for me. Good to know for the future, I guess, but it definitely inhibited my enjoyment of this in a major way. Not recommended for the squeamish and pathetic like me.
March 8, 2016
When I first saw the book I thought great a modern-day version of Frankenstein which really called to me. When I started the book I thought this is going to be a happy fairy tale sort of book which I would not have minded. Boy was I wrong this book was not some happy sunshine and rainbows book.
This book was outstandingly good the storyline was not what I thought it was going to be it was far better than anything I thought it would be.
The storyline was unpredictable and exciting while the book followed a teenage girl and her boyfriend and best friend it was not some light-hearted teen book it was something more. It was deep using more fact when it come to Jo and what she had been through. I felt all kinds of emotions for Jo and the people she cared about and it made me invested more and more in the book and the people in the story. The details and progression in the book all worked towards making me feel more and needing to see it all workout and be ok. By the end, I felt like a nervous reck waiting for it all to come to a close.
The ending of this book had me completely and there are no words that can fully prepare you for it. I had my own thoughts about the way the book was going to play out but the Author shocked me at each turn of the book and that made the book even more amazing.
To sum up this book it pulled you in gave you dark and creepy in waves then slapped you with emotions that left you teary eyed. This book had it all and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it. I can't wait to read more from this amazingly talented Author.
This book was outstandingly good the storyline was not what I thought it was going to be it was far better than anything I thought it would be.
The storyline was unpredictable and exciting while the book followed a teenage girl and her boyfriend and best friend it was not some light-hearted teen book it was something more. It was deep using more fact when it come to Jo and what she had been through. I felt all kinds of emotions for Jo and the people she cared about and it made me invested more and more in the book and the people in the story. The details and progression in the book all worked towards making me feel more and needing to see it all workout and be ok. By the end, I felt like a nervous reck waiting for it all to come to a close.
The ending of this book had me completely and there are no words that can fully prepare you for it. I had my own thoughts about the way the book was going to play out but the Author shocked me at each turn of the book and that made the book even more amazing.
To sum up this book it pulled you in gave you dark and creepy in waves then slapped you with emotions that left you teary eyed. This book had it all and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it. I can't wait to read more from this amazingly talented Author.
July 5, 2016
Thank you goodreads first reads giveaways for this book to read and review.
Heartless was great. The story is told by Jolene "Jo". The three main people are Jo, her best friend Lucy, and her boyfriend Eli. Jo and Eli fought one night and she stormed out of his room in the middle of the night. The next thing she knew was that she was waking up, but wasn't really alive anymore. After escaping, she went to Lucy and then Eli for help. Jo wasn't breathing and had no heartbeat anymore. She couldn't feel anything, but she still had her brain and her memories. The three of them go on a hunt to figure out what happened and to see if they could fix Jo. During this time, they all became targets of the group of people who were kidnapping girls and making them into soldiers/monsters. Jo is falling apart, but she keeps going. They don't know who to trust or what to do, but the three keep fighting through everything.
Even though the beginning shows that Jo isn't going to make it, I found myself rooting for her. She and Lucy are strong female leads which I always love. I'm really hoping there is another book which the end leads me to believe there will be. I would love to find out if this group can be stopped before they kill or change more girls including Lucy whom they want.
Heartless was great. The story is told by Jolene "Jo". The three main people are Jo, her best friend Lucy, and her boyfriend Eli. Jo and Eli fought one night and she stormed out of his room in the middle of the night. The next thing she knew was that she was waking up, but wasn't really alive anymore. After escaping, she went to Lucy and then Eli for help. Jo wasn't breathing and had no heartbeat anymore. She couldn't feel anything, but she still had her brain and her memories. The three of them go on a hunt to figure out what happened and to see if they could fix Jo. During this time, they all became targets of the group of people who were kidnapping girls and making them into soldiers/monsters. Jo is falling apart, but she keeps going. They don't know who to trust or what to do, but the three keep fighting through everything.
Even though the beginning shows that Jo isn't going to make it, I found myself rooting for her. She and Lucy are strong female leads which I always love. I'm really hoping there is another book which the end leads me to believe there will be. I would love to find out if this group can be stopped before they kill or change more girls including Lucy whom they want.
September 4, 2016
This book was a terrible garbage fire, start to finish. & the worst part is because the author decided to cram in a terrible attempt at a love story. Jolene was fairly realistic in her reaction to being killed & coming back to life, & her friend Lucy is a real trooper. But Eli, I hated every moment he was in the book.
He was so awful to her, in everything he did. One moment he literally treats her like everything is her fault (being killed, turned into a science experiment, EVERYTHING) & then next thing you know, he's acting like some kind of perfect boyfriend & comforts her to save face. He was so manipulative & emotionally abusive towards Jo, & I was surprised that no one ever called him out for being a grade A douche.
If the author would have totally struck him out of the story, it would have at least earned 3.5 stars, but stupid Eli ruined everything.
He was so awful to her, in everything he did. One moment he literally treats her like everything is her fault (being killed, turned into a science experiment, EVERYTHING) & then next thing you know, he's acting like some kind of perfect boyfriend & comforts her to save face. He was so manipulative & emotionally abusive towards Jo, & I was surprised that no one ever called him out for being a grade A douche.
If the author would have totally struck him out of the story, it would have at least earned 3.5 stars, but stupid Eli ruined everything.
July 24, 2016
Zombie genre...but this time the zombie is the good guy!
Jolene is a nice upper middle class college girl, who has a fight with her boyfriend one winter night. Next thing she knows, she wakes up lying on a cold steel table. She tears herself free, and makes her way back to her dorm room. But as she travels back home, it becomes clear that she is actually dead....sort of. She no longer feels pain pr bleeds, does not get tired, and no longer breathes or eats. She and her best friend, Lucy, begin a quest to both rerun Jo to her old self, and to find the man who did this to her.
As Jo gradually learns the truth, the reader is led on a series of twists and turns which keep you madly turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Excellently done, and highly recommended!
Jolene is a nice upper middle class college girl, who has a fight with her boyfriend one winter night. Next thing she knows, she wakes up lying on a cold steel table. She tears herself free, and makes her way back to her dorm room. But as she travels back home, it becomes clear that she is actually dead....sort of. She no longer feels pain pr bleeds, does not get tired, and no longer breathes or eats. She and her best friend, Lucy, begin a quest to both rerun Jo to her old self, and to find the man who did this to her.
As Jo gradually learns the truth, the reader is led on a series of twists and turns which keep you madly turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Excellently done, and highly recommended!
September 26, 2016
This book is about a girl in college who wakes up in a lab, with electricity running through her veins. Scientists have made her into a Frankenstein creature. She escapes. Confused and scared she runs back to her college to see her roommate, little does she know this is where the trouble begins. I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the Lunar series (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter) by Marissa Meyer. I noticed that it was very similar to Marissa Meyer's writing style, too. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.
August 2, 2016
To be clear, I did not finish this. It was... gross but in a funny kind of way. I don't think I've ever encountered a character who loses digits and breaks limbs with as much bemused equanimity as Jolene. I just couldn't get in the mood for this.
August 24, 2016
What a wild, modern take on the classic Frankenstein tale!
I liked the main character and her college best friend. I was
Not so fond of the stinky smell Jo oozed on each page nor body parts falling off and disintegrating. The army of infiltrating girls was interesting...
I liked the main character and her college best friend. I was
Not so fond of the stinky smell Jo oozed on each page nor body parts falling off and disintegrating. The army of infiltrating girls was interesting...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2017
Completely addictive.... I raced through this book and would highly recommend it to by YA/NA readers and adult readers (of horror and otherwise). Rhyne has a great mixture here of a unique, believable voice, authentic characters and a crazy imagination. I've never quite read anything like it, but I'm definitely hoping there's more to the story...
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